Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada 50TH SPRING MIGRATION COUNT IN 2024 Daily Raptor Counts: May 04, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 2 Turkey Vulture 75 158 8301 Osprey 0 0 23 Bald Eagle 1 3 119 Northern Harrier 0 1 58 Sharp-shinned Hawk 14 45 724 Cooper's Hawk 2 6 184 American Goshawk 0 0 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 242 Broad-winged Hawk 4 22 1184 Red-tailed Hawk 8 13 855 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 4 Golden Eagle 0 0 10 American Kestrel 2 2 38 Merlin 0 1 13 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 4 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 9 Unknown Buteo 0 1 32 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 9 Unknown Raptor 2 4 60 Total: 108 257 11874 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 7.5 hours Official Counter: Deena Errampalli Observers: Nick Conski Visitors: A very pleasant Saturday brought many visitors to the CA and Hawk Watch Tower. Thanks to Nick Conski from Niagara Falls (5.5 hrs) and John H from Grimsby (an hour) helped with spotting and IDing raptors with the bins. Other visitors to the tower included Alicia and Andrew from Welland, Wayne from Mississauga, Ed Del Bianco, Austin, Oliver and Ashley from Grimsby, Hudson and Kaylee from Woodstock, Ryk Naeves from Hamilton, Mariana and Louis from Toronto, Al from Fonthill, Roberto, Monica, and Comillo from Mississauga. Weather: Thankfully the showers did not materialize. Almost a pleasant day to watch Raptors. The cloud cover ranged between 65-100%, and the visibility was 20 km. The Temperature was between 10C and 15C with wind ranging between 7 km/hr and 12 km/hr. The wind direction was NE. Most of the migration was seen on the north side of the tower. Raptor Observations: A total of 106 raptors, predominantly turkey vultures, followed by Sharp-shinned Hawks, moved from East to West. Only four Broad-winged hawks were seen, but one flew over the tower and gave us a good view. Non-raptor Observations: In addition to the regular passerines, we saw and heard the Great Crested Flycatchers and the Least Flycatchers. Warblers include Black-throated Blue, Blackburnian, and Yellow warblers. Three Great Blue Herons flew over the tower. A flying Sandhill Crane was a treat. A deer family was grazing – a buck, a doe, and 3 fawns were spotted in the vineyard behind the Farmhouse. A Cayote was around too. Predictions: Derby Hill Bird Observatory reported 176 raptors with a good number of SS and BH today, but the weather forecast of showers with a risk of thunderstorms may affect raptor migration at Beamer. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Deena Errampalli (deenaerrampalli@bell.net) Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area information may be found at: http://www.niagarapeninsulahawkwatch.org/ More site information at hawkcount.org: https://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=389 Site Description: Hawk migration monitoring at the Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in Grimsby, Ontario is conducted by the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch (NPH). All counting is done by volunteers. Not all members are counters nor does a counter have to be a member. Typically one person is the designated counter for each day but other observers present assist with the spotting and identification. Counting is done from a steel observation tower with a wooden floor. For wind protection on cold days, particularly in March, a black plastic wind guard is installed around the tower's platform. This platform easily accommodates ten people but on most busy days, no more than five or six observers would be on it. The site lies within a publicly accessible property owned by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. There is no charge for admittance. Only the counter and designated spotters can drive into and park in the conservation area; there is a parking lot outside for visitors. The tower stands in the centre of a mowed area with a gravel ring road near the outer edge. This provides lots of room to set up lawn chairs, telescopes and cameras. Toilet facilities are present. During the counting season, the NPH erect a counting board to display seven day's worth of observation data for the public. The box enclosing the sign contains brochures and silhouette sheets for the public as well as bulletin boards with news and historical sighting records. Directions to site: To get to Beamer CA, take the QEW to Exit 71/72, follow Christie St./Mountain St. to the top of the escarpment, turn right on Ridge Road West, and go 1.6km to Quarry Rd. Turn right on Quarry Rd. and drive 100m to the conservation area. If parking at the entrance or on the roads, do NOT leave valuables in your car. Please note: 1) Data in this report is not official until reviewed and finalized after the end of the season. ©2020 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch. 2) Vehicular traffic into the park is allowed, but visitors are asked to have their cars outside the gate by 3PM. If parking at the gate DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN YOUR VEHICLE!!!